Finnish connection at B-Classic

photo_cameraHeikki Tuuli

13.5.2013

The theme for this year’s B-Classic (21 to 30 June), a well-established chamber music festival in Limburg, Belgium, is “Finnish connection”. Finnish music will play in the concerts by Finnish, Belgian and Dutch top musicians – all brought to the festival environment to “pressure cook” their interpretations together. The model is based on Finnish festivals like Kuhmo Chamber Music festival.

The Finnish musicians at B-Classic include mezzo soprano Virpi Räisänen, pianists Juhani Lagerspetz and Henri Sigfridsson, accordionist Niko Kumpuvaara and the Tempera Quartet with Laura Vikman, Silva Koskela, Tiila Kangas and Ulla Lampela. The programme features Sibelius and Finnish tango, along with several contemporary composer names like Jukka Tiensuu, Jouni Kaipainen, Aulis Sallinen, Kalevi Aho and Magnus Lindberg. A world premiere by Max Savikangas titled Opposite Sensations will be played on 25 June.

B-Classic was formerly known as Basilica Festival van Vlaanderen, and it is part of the festival group Flanders Festival. This year’s festival is made in co-operation with the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux.